| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Helsinki board’s statement | BiH in Partners. for peace | OHR rejects 3 HNK minist. | No evidence for BL murder |
| HN Canton Government | OHR rejected 3 HNK minis. | BiH in Partnersh. for peace | Defence reforms approved |
| Oluja operation | 22nd anniv. in Medjugorje | EU-US summit in Wash. | HR on indirect taxation |
| World news | US – EU summit |
| Galbraith before ICTY |
| Oslobodjenje | Cantonal authorities forcing SBS to leave Sarajevo |
| Dnevni Avaz | Biber’s family is receiving death threats as well |
| Dnevni List | “Gagro: We are not servicing anyone’s racketeering!”; “Three proposed Ministers for HNC Government did not pass OHR vetting procedure: Government had session in incomplete composition” |
| Vecernji List | “Establishment of HNC Government has been postponed again: Three Ministers fell at OHR vetting procedure”; “Many Koreans in Medjugorje” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “There is attempt to cover up crime in Vitezit through persecution of Dragicevic”; “Give chance to Christ and peace in our life” |
| Glas Srpske | Republika Srpska Housing Fund: Loans as usual |
| Nezavisne Novine | Brussels on “black list” on EU entry ban to people from the Balkans: The list includes the names of Sasa Karadzic, Milenko Vracar, Milan Ninkovic and Amfilohije Radovic; Following report at “EuroBlic” on “mysterious murder”: Police questions journalist; Action of Republika Srpska Ministry of Energy: Owners of 12 gas stations prevented the inspection; Almir Abdulah, suspected for having threatened to John Paul II: “I will apologise to Pope and Holy See’ |
| Blic | Mystery for thriller; SFOR searched house of a MP |
Political developments/ reforms | |
| SCMM session
| BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Accession to PfP by mid next year’, Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘BiH in PfP by middle 2004’; Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘A step away from Partnership’ – In the middle of next year Bosnia-Herzegovina might meet the requirements for Partnership for peace. This was stated on Wednesday after the meeting of the BiH Standing Committee for Military Matters by Enes Becirbasic, the Committee’s Secretary. He also added that such plans are ambitious, but not unachievable. A recent decision by HR Paddy Ashdown enabled faster fulfilment of conditions for BiH becoming a member of Partnership for peace. At the meeting Committee reached agreement on how to remove obstacles for civilian command over the armed forces, as well as passing of the BiH Law on defence. According to FTV, The SCMM has accepted a modified text of the plan of activities regarding BiH joining the Partnership for peace. The amendments to BiH Constitution and passing the state level defence law were taken out from the plan. Instead it includes identifying difficulties in establishing command and control over armed forces at the state level with attempt to overcome them in line with existing Constitutional solutions. Deadlines remained the same. RTRS also reported on the issue. |
| RSNA on defence reform | BHTV 1, Croat radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, RTRS, Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Defence on new foundations’; Nezavisne Novine, page 4, ‘Commencement of reforms at Republika Srpska Army’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 21 ‘Less soldiers, shorter military service’, Dnevni List p 10, by Onasa – Defence reforms were also discussed at the special session of the RS National Assembly. Basic reforms and the plan of their implementation, as part of the RS defence system, were adopted. This created a framework for the work of RS representatives in OHR defence reforms commission and supported BiH entering Partnership for peace. Majority of the Assembly agreed for the end result of reforms to be further existence of the RS Army as territorial army. RS President Dragan Cavic repeated joint command, civil control and administration, as well as affordable armed forces were conditions for acceptance in Partnership for peace. The adopted document drafted by the President’s cabinet and government anticipates RS Army with 5,000 professional soldiers. Three ministers from SDA party did not agree with solutions suggested in the document by Dragan Mikerevic’s cabinet. Deputies of this party had the same position. |
| OHR did not approve 3 ministers from HN Canton
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘OHR did not approve appointment of three ministers’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Bilic, Raguz and Isakovic have no OHR’s approval’, Nezavisne Novine, page 4, ‘Three ministers did not pass OHR vetting procedure’ – Three persons suggested for the ministerial positions in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton were not approved by OHR. According to information obtained by BHTV 1 Mostar correspondent HR took such decision in the first place because of past and illegal acts committed by the suggested candidates. The ministers in question are Kemal Isakovic, suggested for Justice Minister, Goran Bilic, nominated for Minister of Police, and Zeljko Raguz, proposed for Education Minister. The OHR refused to give details regarding why the suggested candidates were rejected, and stressed they expected the political parties to suggest as soon as possible new candidates for the given positions. Avis Benes, OHR Spokesperson in Mostar: “As for the reasons, as you know from earlier processes of checking, OHR does not give additional or more detailed reasons for denying approval for certain candidates.” Dnevni list (p 14, “Bilic, Raguz and Isakovic did not pass the OHR vetting”, by Fena), Slobodna Dalmacija (p 4, “3 Cantonal Government Ministers did not pass the OHR vetting procedure”, by M. Landeka), Vecernji list (front page “Three Ministers did not pass the OHR vetting” & p 4, “The OHR does not want Bilic, Raguz and Isakovic for ministers”, by Zoran Kresic) and Vjesnik (p 2, “Mostar: OHR against 3 Ministers”, by Hina) also report that, following the vetting procedure, the OHR did not give its consent to the Minister of Interior, Education Minister and the Minister of Justice to perform their duties in the newly-appointed Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) Government. Avis Benes, the OHR Mostar Spokesperson, said the criteria the IC was governed when deciding whether one was (un)fit for a position were: war crimes record, record of obstructing the peace process implementation and serious criminal record. Benes would not give the details or the justification to the final OHR decision. She said the political parties were now to propose new candidates for those positions to be vetted again, hoping those would be people who would be ready to fully implement reforms the citizens of the HNC desperately need. VL comments this is yet another delay in establishment of the Government 8 months after the elections adding it is assessed that this OHR move is an attempt to ease strong criticism of the Bosniak public to fining the SDA and Party for BiH. VL also says that a source close to the OHR claims the IC declined to verify Zeljko Raguz to the position of the Minister of Education over abuse of funds; unofficially, Goran Bilic was declined for the position of the Interior Minister over a vehicle scandal and his refusal to subordinate himself to the former FBiH Minister of Interior, Ramo Maslesa, in the Kostajnica murder case. HDZ is said to have claimed the OHR had no arguments to find the two unfit and the HDZ doubts the sincerity of the OHR decision. DL (page 14) carries a public opinion poll where the citizens were asked to comment on the fact that three proposed Ministers did not pass the OHR’s vetting procedure. Questioned citizens mainly support the OHR’s decision. One of the interviewed persons says that politically fit persons have always been in power and not the capable ones and that it is a high time that this situation changes. Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “Filling the Cantonal Government to be urgently solved”, by Zoran Zekic), Vecernji list (front page “Three Ministers did not pass the OHR vetting” & p 4, “The OHR does not want Bilic, Raguz and Isakovic for ministers”, by Zoran Kresic) and Dnevni list (front page & p 13, “HNC Government in session in incomplete composition”, by Miso Relota) report that, due to the result of the OHR vetting procedure, the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) Government held yesterday its first session in the new but incomplete composition. Miroslav Coric, the HNC Prime Minister was somewhat surprised with the OHR decision, saying he had already called upon the parties to propose their new candidates for the 3 vetted positions. “This time, the proposals will not be forwarded to the Assembly before we get the approval from the International Community”, Coric said. SD carries the Minister of Finance Semin Boric as saying that the Government would in a couple of days pay April salaries to budget beneficiaries. VL reports that, due to the OHR decision, the HDZ HNC Board’s Presidency held its session on Wednesday morning when it was announced the party already had 2 candidates to be sent to the OHR for vetting. This was confirmed by Josip Merdzo, the president of the HDZ HNC Board, in DL: “We regret the OHR had no understanding for integration of the Cantonal Government’s work at the moment. It would have been more pragmatic if the Government had started working in the full capacity and no one could prevent the OHR from sanctioning either Ministries or the Government for their possibly bad work afterwards”. |
| Humphries for BHTV 1 on BiH-US-EU relations
| BHTV 1 By Laura Bosnjak – European Union has understanding for BiH decision to ratify agreement on immunity of US citizens before the International Criminal Court, though it does not agree with it. EU is aware the US would sanction non signing of the given agreement, said head of the European Commission delegation in BiH, Michael Humphries, said in an interview with BHTV 1 in Thessalonica where he was attending the EU summit. |
| SDA’s Palavric: SDA has never betrayed Mostar | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Cantons with special regime were abolished by the Alliance for Change’, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘SDA has never betrayed Mostar’, Dnevni List page 4, by Fena,FENA – Vice-president of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) Seada Palavric said that the frequent attacks of media in Mostar, certain weekly magazines in BiH and individuals from the former Alliance for changes against SDA related to the activities in forming the Government of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) are “a poor and very expensive manner of collecting political points, but also of creating a climate of misunderstanding and hatred”. “Unlike the Alliance, during the struggling eight-month long negotiations SDA has managed to ensure the same number of Bosniaks and Croats in the HNC Government, which is the closest solution to those once being valid in the cantons with a special regime. Unfortunately, in these negotiations SDA has not managed to insure that the Serb representative club in HNC Assembly itself proposes the Serb minister, but the fact remains that this club did not help resolving the situation much with its behaviour”, said the SDA Vice-president. SDA, she added, has never betrayed Mostar or any other town in BiH. |
| Editorials in Dnevni List on Komarica’s statement, Pope’s visit | Dnevni List (page 2, by Ilko Barbaric) carries an editorial which says that the speech of Banja Luka Bishop Franjo Komarica disturbed political ghosts in the Republika Srpska, while the Federation of BiH has been as always indifferent, bloodless and not interested in this issue. The editorial also says: “What has Bishop Komarica said on Sunday that disturbed the Arcadian idyll of the Dayton’s dreamland, that is, its most loyal guard the Republika Srpska, whose life-long President Radovan Karadzic is still laying wreaths on graves and sends ‘last good by to his General Momir Talic” in front of SFOR and all this-world public and secret services and Police that God gave. Bishop Komarica dared to warn once again of injustice that Catholics of the Banja Luka region have been suffering for over ten years.” Dnevni List (page 6, by Bakir Hadziomerovic) carries an editorial dealing with the Pope’s visit to Banja Luka. The editorial says that according to reliable information the speech that Chairman of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac delivered on the occasion of the Pope’s visit was corrected for three times in the OHR. The editorial also says that ‘Paravac was talking as nothing has happened in this country and as if he and his party did not kill, expel and send to prison camps thousands of Pope’s believers about ten years ago’. The author is making comparison between this visit and visits that survived Bosniaks are paying to Srebrenica every year. “In both stories the RS Police and authorities are behaving in the same way. During a few protocol hours in both, Petricevac and Srebrenica, there is no hatred towards uninvited guests, however, after TV cameras are shut down everything returns to the old positions gained through crime.” |
| DL: “BiH is leading country in Europe when number of persons employed in administration is in question” | Dnevni List (page 8, by De.L.) carries that according to High Representative Paddy Ashdown about 63% of funds from all budgets are being allocated for the public sector every year. DL says that such information say that BiH is a leading country not only in the region but in Europe when the number of the persons employed in the administration is in question. Member of the working group, which is in charge of the public administration reform, Sahbaz Dzihanovic stated: “According to my estimations, the number of the employees in the administration should be reduced from 15 to 45%, that is, many institutions which were established simultaneously with various Ministries, state authority bodies should be abolished or maximally reduced..” |
Affairs | |
| BiH Trade Unions leader Biber receives threatening letter
| Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Leave the privatization alone’, Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2 ‘Assassination threats directed towards Biber’s family as well’, Dnevni List front and page 5, by Arijana Beus, “Biber: Those who feel singled out are threatening me”, FENA – On Wednesday President of BiH Trade Unions Association Edhem Biber received another threatening letter. As the BiH Union announced the letter states: “Are you sure that your will live long with your family. Give up on privatisation”. “This is yet another attempt of using intimidation and attacks on moral and physical integrity of BiH Union President Edhem Biber and the BiH Union in stopping the activities aimed at organised resistance to crime and today’s robbing of workers’ properties”, the Union emphasized. The Main Board of the Union requests the relevant bodies to take all measures with the aim of insuring the security of President Biber and his family. Spokesperson for the Sarajevo Cantonal Ministry of Interior Ljiljana Sakic confirmed for FENA the information on the threatening letter that was addressed to BiH Union President Edhem Biber, stressing that the investigation was underway. |
| Claims on SFOR’s contamination of Seljublje area are baseless
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna – Federal Health Agency and Civil Protection Agency examined claims on contamination in villages near Banovici and Kalesija caused by SFOR’s destroyed weapons. Inhabitants claimed that SFOR, by destroying its weapons, produces radioactivity damaging their health. After taking samples of ground, air and waters, it was determined that claims were baseless. Despite that, Head of Cantonal Civil Protection Agency Zdenko Tadic said that it is time for SFOR to start coordinating destruction of weapon with local authorities. Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘Residents of Seljublje: Even birds left the area’ also reported on the issue. |
| Pogorelica case | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Pogorelica served the purpose of terrorists trainning’ – Pogorelica case might get its epilogue soon. The long awaited report of the independent expert, Rohan Gunaratna, about the purpose of the camp and training conducted there was delivered to the investigative bodies. According to sources close to Judiciary, the international expert found that the camp was in principle used for terrorist activities training. Gunaratna is the chief Al Qaeda expert of the British Office of the Prosecutor and researcher for UN projects on terrorism and author of seven books in this field. |
| Second World War Veterans request banning of Chetnik Movement’s work
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Chetnik Movement should be banned’ – Association of Veterans of the Antifascist and Liberation War of BiH (Second World War Veterans – SUBNOAR) has addressed a request to the High Representative, BiH authorities and BiH courts asking them to ban the Ravna Gora Chetnik Movement. According to their request, this fascist organisation has been inciting fear with its terrorist and aggressive acts, and spreads ethnic hatred. |
| ‘Cantonal authorities are forcing BiH border service officers to leave Sarajevo’ | Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 7 ‘Cantonal authorities are forcing Bi9H border service officers to leave Sarajevo’ – If they continue insisting on inappropriately high land fees for the construction of the BiH State Border Service central office in the Sarajevo suburb of Butmir, the Sarajevo Canton Government will be responsible for a forced removal of the SBS from the BiH capital to Lukavica (Serb Sarajevo, RS). The Sarajevo Canton authorities are requesting payment of a half a million KM for the issuance of the construction permits, as the Serb Sarajevo government offers 2,000 square meters of land to the SBS for free. |
| SD on media attacks on FBiH Defense Ministry Chief Inspector Dragicevic | In light of media attacks on the FBiH Ministry of Defense Chief Inspector Drago Dragicevic, Slobodna Dalmacija (front & p 17, “There is attempt to cover up crime in “Vitezit” through persecution of Dragicevic”, by Zvonimir Cilic) carries a lengthy piece of denial of allegations against Dragicevic. The accusations range from privatisation and co-capitalisation of “Vitezit” and participation in the HVO rebellion at the time of the Croat self-rule to breaking of 10 luxurious Ministry’s vehicles. The author of the article says that the sources of all the lies (N.B. for details, see the transcript of “60 minutes” programme of June 16) spread about Dragicevic which are served to (primarily) media with Bosniak prefix are the former FBiH Defense Minister Mijo Anic and his NHI protégés. According to Cilic, the aim of Anic’s campaign against Dragicevic is to cover up his own illegal activities. Bearing in mind, SD goes on, that FBiH Financial Police, Customs, FBiH Ministry of Interior, FOSS and the FBiH Ministry of Defense have for the last 15 days been carrying out the audit of “Vitezit”‘s business operations made over the last 7 years (including the period when Anic was the Minister, and “Vitezit” has undoubtedly violated the UN embargo on export of military equipment) and that Dragicevic heads the Inspection, it is obvious Dragicevic was the obstacle that had to be removed. |
Crimes | |
| SFOR denies Blic article re murder in Banja Luka
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Police interested in mysterious murder – Denials by SFOR’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Whether a Mladic’s associate was murdered in front of the Vrbas restaurant?’, Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 2, ‘Police and SFOR have no information into the murder case’ – SFOR denies claims stated in the Euroblic paper’s article that SFOR members prevented police in conducting investigation at the murder crime scene In Banja Luka. According to Euroblic, murdered person was the RS Army driver and was working for Russian intelligence since 1999. Paper claims he was connected to Ratko Mladic and other war crime suspects. Writer of the article Tijana Veselinovic, that was interviewed today by the RS police, claim person was murdered early this morning and police officers who arrived to the crime scene but were denied access by the SFOR soldiers speaking Russian. Blic pg. 18 ‘Mystery for thriller’ also reported on the issue. Blic pg. 18 ‘RS Association of Journalists condemned detention’ – The RS Association of Journalists addressed a strong protest to the Interior Ministry in regard to Tijana Veselinovic’s detention, because the legal procedure was not respected in this case. Blic pg. 18 ‘Republika Srpska Helsinki Committee concerned’ – The Republika Srpska Helsinki Committee for Human Rights voiced its concern over the inadequate police treatment of Euro Blic journalist Tijana Veselinovic, who was brought in for informative talks in Banja Luka. “Such move by the RS police represents unacceptable pressure on journalists and the media, while in the same time basic international standards on freedom of expression and freedom of media are violated,” the committee said in a statement. The committee called on the RS authorities to stop with pressures and intimidation of journalists and media, and instead give journalists a guarantee of security and freedom for free work. |
| Trial of Milosevic | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 7, Vecernji List page 10, by Hina, “There was no ethnic cleansing during ‘Storm’”, Dnevni List page 16, not signed, “There was no ethnic cleansing in ‘Storm’” – Former US Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith said in the Milosevic before the ICTY on Wednesday that former Serbian President had full control over Serbs in Croatia during the war. Michael Williams also continued his testimony, as the Prosecution witness, who stuck by what he said yesterday that RS Army held Sarajevo under siege, which was denied by Milosevic. |
| Dusko Tomic claims Tomo Kovac knows truth about missing people from Kasindolska street | Oslobodjenje pg. 9, mentioned on the front page ‘Tomo Kovac even received an USAID loan’ – Dusko Tomic, the general secretary of the Children Embassy (NGO), claims that Tomo Kovac, the wartime head of the Ilidza municipality, knows the truth about the destiny of 44 missing Bosniaks from the Sarajevo Kasindolska street. |
| EU blacklist | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘The list includes the names of Sasa Karadzic, Milan Ninkovic and Amfilohije Radovic’ – The list of persons from BiH and Balkans states, who will be banned from entering EU states, will contain the names of the following persons: Sasa Karadzic, Milan Ninkovic and Amfilohije Radovic, Metropolitan of Montenegro and Seashore. NN learnt from an international diplomatic source that the list will also include the name of Milenko Vracar. NN claims that the first ten names from the EU ban list will be publicised in the next couple of days. |
| Abdulah on his threats
| Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 2, ‘I will apologise to Pope and Holy See’ – Almir Abdulah from Zenica, suspected of having addressed threats to Pope during his visit to Croatia, will make a public apology to Holy See and Holy Father, because he sent e-mails threatening with assassination. He also expressed an enormous regret over initially hacker joke, which turned into a court process. |
| Trafficking in women in BiH continues | Nezavisne Novine, page 4, ‘Prostitutes from night bars are taken at private country houses and apartments’ – At yesterday’s press conference in Banjaluka, the Spokesperson of EUPM, Alun Roberts, stated that those involved in organised crime and particularly trafficking in women for prostitution, have been lately transferring the activities from night bars in private houses and apartments. He said that the reason for such measure was because of “more frequent police raids at the bars. |
Economic, social issues | |
| Some 20 Austrian businessmen/ possible investors visited BiH
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Possibilities opened for new forms of cooperation’ – Representatives of BiH Council of Ministers, Foreign Trade Chamber and Agency for Promotion of Foreign Investments talked on in Sarajevo on Wednesday with a delegation of the Austrian investors about possibilities of investments in BiH. Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic said, council’s target was adoption of European standards, association with EU and BiH attractiveness to the foreign investors. A memorandum of cooperation related to electrical power supply and protection of environment was also signed. Federation Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, said: “We would also like to move the interest of the financial capital present in banking and insurance agencies on the production sector in future. I think we have great chances for this.” |
| BiH CoM to discuss Vc corridor construction today | BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Malaysian company closer and closer to the construction of the highway’ – BiH Council of Ministers is finally due to consider on Thursday its answer to the letter of intention of the Bosnian-Malaysian company Bosmal about construction of the highway 5C. Though it was mentioned that Malaysian government supports this project the public still does not quite understand their role. Hajrudin Somun, BiH Ambassador in Malaysia, said: “Malaysian government, under President Mohatir chairmanship, on 28 September passed a decision to support that project in Bosnia. However, about eight months have passed and due to various local reasons in BiH the Council of Ministers has not decided to accept that offer”. |
| Discussion on indirect taxation in RS Assembly | RTRS – Indirect taxation including VAT and custom reforms were discussed in the afternoon part of Wednesday’s session of RS National Assembly. RS Finance Minister who is also a member of Working group for indirect taxation informed delegates about proposed mechanism for collection of indirect taxes. Revenues from indirect taxation will be channelled back to the Entities and a seat of the office for indirect taxation will be in RS. Chairman of the Indirect Taxation Commission Jolly Dixon urged for these reforms since they are crucial for harmonization with the EU standards. Discussion on this topic was underway in the evening. |
| Ashdown urges for indirect taxation laws adoption
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘Ashdown warned MP’s of importance of the law on VAT’ – High Representative Paddy Ashdown has strongly urged for passing of interim law on indirect taxation. He warned that credibility of BiH will be severely undermined if this law is not passed by the Parliaments. At Thessaloniki EU Summit he reported about progress on economic reforms and received a clear message that EU wants to see these reforms passed. Ashdown said the interim law need to be passed in accelerated manner, but the Parliaments will have enough time to process the final law during July. |
| RS Government on economic issues | Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘More work at stock exchange’, Blic pg. 6 ‘Rules on shares on stock market defined’ – On Wednesday the RS Government issued the Decision on fortifying the Rule of procedure for bringing of state capital on stock market and other public markets. And this is necessary in order to unify the trafficking of shares. These rules regulate the affairs in the Plan for bringing of shares on the stock market and the methodology for accounting the initial price of a share or a package of shares, which maintains the possibility for the Government to, estimating the other economic indicators of business conduct, raise the price. The Government was also briefed on the Draft Transferring Law on unification of Customs Administrations and establishment of the Indirect Tax Administration, which was forwarded by the Commission for Indirect Tax Policy of BiH. |
| DL on Eronet case | Dnevni List (page 4, not signed, “Decision on HT’s share in Eronet in September”) carries that preparatory hearing with regard to the lawsuit that HT d.o.o. Mostar filed against Hercegovina Osiguranje, Croherc and Alpina Comerc took place in Mostar yesterday. General Manager of HT d.o.o. Mostar Stipe Prlic stated that the next hearing has been scheduled for September 10, when both parties are supposed to submit arguments for their claims. DL (page 7, by Ne. D., “Hearing of suspects in Eronet case will take place today and tomorrow”) carries on the same issue that Deputy of the Cantonal Prosecutor of the Herzegovina Neretva Canton Ibro Bulic confirmed for DL that the hearing of all suspects in the Eronet case will take place today and tomorrow. DL also says that it should be clear that current Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic made possible privatization of Eronet. |
| G.I.P.I. reacts to accusations of FBiH Tax Administration | Dnevni List (front page, “Gagro: We are not servicing anyone’s racketeering!” and page 3, “Gagro: Company G.I.P.I. does not serve anyone’s racketeering”, by D. L.) carries that Meat Industry G.I.P.I. d.o.o. Citluk decided to stop with its media silence and they issued a press release which says: “We shall reject all concrete claims of the Federation of BiH Customs Administration and its Head Zelimir Rebac at the Court, which in our opinion can stop this soap opera and pass a just verdict.” The press release also says that the systematic attacks against this company started at the beginning of 2002 as continuation of the threat stated by one member of the investigative team of the FBiH Customs Administration who allegedly said that G.I.P.I. must be destroyed. Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
| Naphtha 2003
| Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘Owners of 12 gas stations prevented inspection’ – The inspectors of fuel quality were not allowed to take samples and perform control and inspection of the fuel sold at 11 gas stations and at one firm, engaged in fuel import. NN learnt at the Republika Srpska Ministry of Energy that the Ministry launched this action at the end of February, stressing that violation reports will be filled against all those firms and responsible persons, who prevented the inspection. The lab analyses performed so far on 700 samples taken at 320 fuel stations and 88 fuel purchasers proved that bad quality fuel was sold at 41 gas station. |
| Loans to refugees and DP’s | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Loans as usual’ – Although the Associations of refugees and DP’s from Republika Srpska sought from the Republika Srpska Government and its institutions to change the loan criteria for refugees and DP’s, the officials of the Republika Srpska Housing Fund claim that the chances for adoption of these proposals are minimal. The reason for this is that all criteria and conditions necessary for getting a loan, which are currently regulated by the Law on Housing Fund, should be altered in order to meet their demands. |
| Srebrenica revitalisation process | Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Programme must be useful for Srebrenica population’ – The Head of UNDP Department for Europe, Calman Misei, yesterday arrived for a three-day visit to Srebrenica, where he is check into the implementation of the UNDP programme for this region. The purpose of his visit is also to determine what further measures should be undertaken, in order to improve and develop the current programmes. According to Misei, UNDP programme has so far effected upon revitalisation of the agriculture in the region. |
| Srpske Poste affair | Vecernje Novosti pg. 21 ‘Firsts man –Mr. X’, Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Ramp against new director’ – Chairman of the steering board of the RS Srpske Poste Milorad Zrnic said on Wednesday that Milutin Pejic does not abide by the decision of the steering board on his dismissal from the position of the manager of this company. Zrnic told a press conference that problems about the election of new manager of this company last from February 2003, and that Pejic has created parallel management of the company. “Pejic first filed a written resignation effective immediately only to withdraw it later, and then the steering board at the session held on 13 March confirmed his resignation and relieved him of his duties”, Zrnic said. ”On 22 May, the steering board adopted the conclusions of the supervisory board that conditions in the company are not satisfactory and adopted a new decision on dismissal of Pejic and appointment of Andrija Skriljevic as the acting manager of the company”, Zrnic said. He added that Skriljevic was on Tuesday again denied entrance to the company, because Pejic does not allow it. Acting manager Andrija Skriljevic said that he informed the steering board and relevant ministry that he was denied entrance to the company and pointed out that Pejic formed a parallel management of the company on 12 June. He stressed that the process of substitution of the person registered as authorised official to represent the company before the Basic Court of Registration is not completed yet. Zrnic said that essential reasons for dismissal of Pejic have been his breach of professional and moral standards of behaviour, beginning of non-institutional negotiations to keep his position further, failing to undertake necessary measures to secure legal work in the company, obstruction of timely creation of annual plans of the company, as well as multiple breaches of the law on process of purchase of goods and services. |
Other developments | |
| Helsinki Committee on position of Croats in Sarajevo
| Croat Radio Herceg-Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Jeopardised Croats are leaving Sarajevo’ – BiH Helsinki Committee for Human Rights warned Croats mostly feel disrupted and insecure in Sarajevo. Recent incidents committed against Croats in Sarajevo have made the Committee to conduct research into the issue and position of Croats was assessed as typical for minorities. Reason for that is Bosniaks’ wish to dominate in that part of BiH. Croats are not participating enough in the Sarajevo Canton governance and public companies. Intolerant policy of the national parties, police and education system contribute to the poor position of Croats in Sarajevo. |
| RS Refugee Minister says collective centres to be dismissed this summer | Blic pg. 7 ‘Collective centres by the end of summer’ – “The Republika Srpska will manage to fulfil the IC requests by the end of year and in that way to solve the problem of property return. It is sure we will solve 97% of claims,” deputy minister for refugees and DPs Drago Vuleta says. The Ministry hopes that collective centres in the Republika Srpska will be dismissed this summer. Vuleta says that 80% of property claims has been solved in the Republika Srpska, and that OHR’s data that Banja Luka is the worst town when it comes to the implementation of property laws are not true. According to Vuleta there are 3,320 unsolved claims in Banja Luka and not 7,000 as the IC says. |
| “Banja Luka Bishop Franjo Komarica: International Community wrote Croats off” | Dnevni List (page 2, not signed) carries that Banja Luka Bishop Franjo Komarica stated for Radio Livno that leaders of the Republika Srpska did not have reason to condemn his speech delivered during the Pope’s visit to Banja Luka because he only said a part of the truth which is bad and dramatic. Komarica also said: “Assistance for the return of the Croats does not exist at all, because the International Community wrote them off and this is impermissible and discrediting for the International Community.” |
| 31 medals handed over to the BiH innovators | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ’31 medals handed over to the BiH innovators’ – The French Ambassador to BiH, Bernard Bajolet, and the representatives of the Russian and Swiss Embassies to BiH on Wednesday handed over to the BiH innovators 31 medals won this year at the innovations exhibitions in Paris, Moscow and Geneva. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, who was a special guest at the ceremony, received the “Great Medal of Honour’ of the Paris Fair. |
| New SBS director assumes duties | Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Robert Peric is the New Director of SBS’; Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Peric instead of Mihalj”, Dnevni List page 4, “Robert Peric new Head of BiH State Border Service”, Slobodna Dalmacija last page, by D. Pasic, “Robert Peric at Head of State Border Service”, Sarajevo media – In accordance with eight-month rotation at the position of the Director of SBS, Robert Peric, Croat representative, on 12 June assumed this position. His deputies will be Slavisa Vukovic and Nijaz Spahic. |